Contraceptives and cancer: What are my risks?

Contraceptives and cancer: What are my risks?

Do contraceptives increase my risk of cancer?

Many women worry that using certain types of birth control can increase their risk of cancer. The information below provides all the facts you need to make an informed choice when concerned about contraceptives and cancer .

Oral contraceptives and ovarian and endometrial cancer

Studies have found that women who use oral contraceptives, such as the pill, have a reduced risk of ovarian and endometrial cancer. This preventative effect increases with the length of time that the oral contraceptive is used for.

Oral contraceptives and breast cancer

Scientists aren’t certain whether oral contraceptives increase women’s risk of breast cancer, possibly because the levels of hormones in the pill have changed since it was first introduced in the 1960s. In those days, the pill contained extremely high levels of hormones, compared to today’s low-dose pills. Some studies have found that women who used the pill for longer periods of time faced an increased risk of breast cancer – but that 10 or more years after they stopped using it, their risk returned to the same level as if they’d never used it at all.
A woman’s risk of developing breast cancer depends on several factors, some of which are related to her natural hormones. When the breast tissue is exposed to high levels of hormones for an extended period of time, a woman’s breast cancer risk may be heightened. This high exposure may occur in the following situations:

• Starting your period at an early age
• Reaching menopause at a late age
• Having your first pregnancy at an older age
• Not having children

Oral contraceptives and cervical cancer

Long-term use of oral contraceptives (five or more years) is associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. However, as with the risk of breast cancer, studies have found that women who stopped using the pill experienced a decreased risk of cervical cancer, which continued to decline over time, regardless of how long they’d initially used oral contraceptives before stopping.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by a persistent infection with certain types of the human papillomavirus (read more about HPV here), and therefore any association between cervical cancer and the use of oral contraceptives is likely to be indirect. The hormones in the pill may change the susceptibility of cervical cells to HPV infection, limit their ability to fight the infection, or make it easier for HPV infection to cause changes that progress to cervical cancer.

Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)

The two main types of LARCs are the intrauterine device (IUD or the ‘loop’) and the implant. While there is no confirmed evidence that LARCs lead to an increased risk in cancer in women, a 2014 study by Finnish scientists found that the IUD may be associated with higher than expected incidence of breast cancer in women who use it.
As for the contraceptive implant, research isn’t conclusive on whether it increases a woman’s risk of cancer, although as with other types of birth control, there is a possibility that it may.

Get dependable contraceptive advice at Marie Stopes

The doctors and nurses at Marie Stopes are trained to help you find the safest and most effective method of birth control for your body and your needs.

Contact us now for contraceptive advice or to make an appointment for a pap smear.

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Quick Facts

Sterilisation: If you know for sure that you don't want any more children this can be good. Implants: Last for 3 years. Just remember to replace after 3 years! IUD: Many people like it cause once it's in, it works for 5 years. You can ask for one without hormones if you want. (But remember condoms to protect against infection!)

Some people think that it's OK for the man to pull out of the vagina before he comes. NO! There can be sperm in the fluid that comes out before he comes – leading to pregnancy or infection.

Get Help

If you think you may be pregnant, DO A PREGNANCY TEST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE – you can get these tests from the pharmacy or your clinic or doctor. If you have an unwanted pregnancy, the sooner you know, the better you can be helped to choose what to do.

There are lots of government clinics that give free family planning. Look in the phone book or call a local clinic to find the closest one. Marie Stopes are South African government-approved reproductive health clinics.

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More on Abortion

It is legal for women of any age to have an abortion in South Africa. No parental or partner permission is needed. It is your body and your decision to end or keep the pregnancy … nobody can force you. It is very important to go to a registered, legal facility. There are many people who advertise abortion services, but many are not legal and having a ‘backstreet abortion’ could be dangerous to your health and life.

Any woman can ask for an abortion in the first three months (12 weeks) of pregnancy. If you are three to five months (13-20 weeks) pregnant, an abortion can be performed under certain circumstances. It is very important to act quickly, the earlier you seek help the better.

You can visit your doctor who will refer you to an appropriate facility and a consultation fee will be charged. You can go to a private organisation such as Marie Stopes where there will be also be a charge. Some government facilities offer abortions for free, see link below for a list of local government facilities which offer the service.

Medical abortion: Tablets to end an early pregnancy can be taken up until the 9th week of pregnancy. You will be given pills to take at the clinic and to take at home. It will cause you to bleed like a period, but it might be heavier than your normal period.

Surgical abortion: The pregnancy is removed whilst you are at the facility, typically through vacuum aspiration.

If the abortion is done by a legal provider at a legal facility, problems after the procedure are rare. A trained counsellor will discuss your options and advise you on which family planning methods are suitable for you.